Monday, 20 September 2004
On September 18, RA Prime Minister A. Margaryan received Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission.
By welcoming the visit of the EC President to our region, the Prime Minister stated that it was the evidence of EU's growing interest to the South Caucasian region and might give a strong impetus to the developing relationship between the European Union, Armenia and other countries of the region. Mr. A. Margaryan noted, in particular, that this visit should be seen in the context of the decision on the integration of the countries of the region into the European Neighborhood Policy, which was adopted at the EU's Summit held in June, 2004. According to the Prime Minister, this important initiative on the part of the European Union provided the countries of the region with equal possibilities for deepening and further expanding their relationship with the European Union and accelerating the pace of democratic and social and economic reforms. In briefing Mr. Prodi on Armenia's efforts towards its European integration, the head of the Armenian government mentioned the projects underway and under consideration with the view of furthering bilateral cooperation in the fields of commercial exchange, scientific research, legislative harmonization within the framework of the European Neighborhood Policy. He advised that Armenia deemed the ENP Program of Action to be a complex of specific steps to follow on the way to the implementation of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, a National Program under which is due to be set up in the near future. According to the Prime Minister, successful completion of the above would enable Armenia to achieve new quality in its relationship with the EU, namely the signing of the Neighborhood Agreement. Mr. A. Margaryan noted that Armenia expected a possibly expedited start of joint discussions and design of the Program of Action and assured the high guest of the Armenian authorities' willingness of extending every possible support in this matter.
The President of the European Commission reiterated EU's readiness to back up the countries of the region in their efforts towards building a strong society based on democratic values. He informed that the European Commission was going to prepare reports on the 3 South Caucasian states to estimate the progress made in respect of economic and political reforms and peaceful settlement of regional conflicts.
The meeting agenda included a number of issues bearing on regional cooperation. Prime Minister A. Margaryan presented Armenia's position which abode by the principle of good neighboring relationship with all its neighbors. A broad range of issues bearing on the Armenian-Turkish relationship and a negotiated settlement of the Karabkh conflict were touched upon at the meeting. Both the Prime Minister and the President of the European Commission expressed the opinion that the process of European integration would be endangered should the existing problems go unresolved. By viewing the Karabakh settlement process in this context, the two parties to the discussion noted that economic rehabilitation and subsequent progress in South Caucasus would only be possible through lasting peace and multilateral regional cooperation. Mr. Prodi stressed that the European Union had no intention of assuming the role of a mediator though it stood ready to make serious efforts in support of the ongoing dialog and eventual resolution of the conflict.
